Sign petition for open primaries in state

Editor, the Record:

It is exciting to see support for open primaries in Pennsylvania in your editorial pages. (Open primaries to all registered voters in state, 6-17, 2009). It is also very encouraging to see Pennsylvanians participating in a political dialogue that challenges the "the two-party stranglehold of our government."

Independent voters are the fastest growing political force in United States. Nationally, 40 percent of all voters self-identify as independents, regardless of whether they are registered into a party or not. In Pennsylvania, more that 1 million registered voters are not allowed to vote in primary elections.

Independent Pennsylvanians applaud State Rep. Eugene DePasquale's initiative in introducing legislation (H.B. 1672) that would allow all registered voters, including the 1 million of us not affiliated with any party or registered as independents, to cast our votes in primary elections.

Independent Pennsylvanians is an association of independent voters. We support issues and campaigns at the local, state and national level designed to increase the visibility and power of the independent voters. As an organization we have been actively campaigning for open primaries as one way of expanding our democracy by giving independent voters a voice in the critical decisions being made in the statewide and local primaries. Please sign our petition for open primaries on our web site. (www.paindependents.org)

DR. ADA IVONNE VAZQUEZ

Independent Pennsylvanian

Coopersburg

It is refreshing to read the Point/Counterpoint discussion of open primaries on May 31. We hope it will spark some action by the state Legislature to open the primaries. I'm sure that T.J. Rooney, chairman of the state Democratic Committee, could generate some action in that direction.

Nationally, nearly 40 percent of all voters self-identify as Independents, regardless of whether they are registered into a party or not. Independent Pennsylvanians has been actively campaigning for open primaries as a way of expanding our democracy and giving independent voters a voice in the critical decisions being made in the statewide primaries.

Independent voters nationally had a significant impact on the recent presidential primaries and general election. Pennsylvania is one of only 17 states that still has a closed primary.

More than a million voters were shut out of voting in the primaries in Pennsylvania. Lest we forget, the primaries are funded by the taxpayers and not the political parties.

Our polling indicates broad support for open primaries from voters across the political spectrum. In a democracy such as ours, it is just not acceptable to shut out over a million voters for partisan political reasons.

Independents are a force for political reform and could help end partisan politics that generally excludes the interest of the state's voters We need to demand a change in the way politics is done here, and open primaries would be a major step in the right direction.

Mark S. Balsam

Springfield Township